Archive for December, 2008:
YOF Albums of 2008
My Year in review goes a little something like the state of the economy. Started out strong (did it? I dunno) and went down hill quick. The beginning of the year I had a kick ass job and internship and lived in a killer apartment off Melrose and had an awesome girlfriend. Now that it’s December, I sleep on the couch, no girlfriend, bunk job, and have gotten in two car accidents. BUT things can only go up in 09! Right? I’m excited. So here are the albums that have gotten me through the worst year ever along with some mp3s because we all know that’s the only reason you check out the site Plus those awesome interviews we’ve been having. My musical taste is exquisetly amature so check it out! ( Side note: I’m making a top Bangerz of 08 list which will be drastically different than this so if you don’t like any of these tracks look out for that.) Holla!
~ Your Only Friend
10.Tilly and the wall-o
Cute indie girls and tap dancing is a combination that never fails. I was a huge fan of their last album “Bottoms of Barrels” and 08s O offers more of the same sing-songy girl vocals with some added synth here and there. Tall Tall Grass and Jenny Lewis’s Acid Tongue are tied up for my favorite Indie Girl Jam of the year.
Tilly and The Wall-Tall Tall Grass
9.Facing New York-Get Hot
Progressive funk Rock at its best. I blew these guys off for so long for some unknown reason and I’m glad I stopped that nonsense cause this shit’s my jam. If you’ve ever enjoyed a Dismemberment Plan song check these guys out.
Facing New York- Me N My Friendz
8.Girl Talk- Feed The Animals
It’s Girl Talk, ya people have been mashing up tracks forever, but not like this. The man pretty much perfected his skill on this album. Take a rap accapella and layer it with a classic 90′s drum beat and a classic rock guitar riff and just keep repeating that process. Makes for the perfect roadtrip mixtape.
7.Louis La Roche-The Peach EP
This kid is 18 years old and people were mistaking his work for new tracks by Thomas Bangalter. Really?! He came out of nowhere and dropped in my opinion the best french house EP of the year. Ya the tracks repeat a bit but. dude is 18 cut him some slack. Already finished his LP due next year. expect big things.
Louis La Roche- Do You Remember
6.Vampire Weekend-S/T
Pretty much delivered on the hype of their EP. Everythings already been said about these guys. M79 is my jam.
5.The Cool Kids- The Bake Sale
This was my LA summer album. Bumpin 88 with the roof down driving down the PCH can’t beat it.
4.Crystal Castlees-S/T
At the beginning of the year they put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. On Halloween they were terrible which pretty much sums up crystal castles. Stealing a bunch of ideas and coming out with in my opinion the most unique I don’t give a fuck sounding album of 08. Courtship Dating better be on everyone’s top 10 tracks list.
3.Cut Copy-in Ghost Colours
Nothing beat this album sonically. So relaxing and chill yet so danceable. Ya Hearts on fire came out at the beginning of 07 but any album that has that killer sax solo deserves to be on a top ten list.
2. Forgive Durden- Razia’s Shadow
So I grew up being obsessed with Seattle’s pop punk scene. Which will explain my top two albums of the year as both stem from musicians out of the area. Razia’s Shadow is a musical created by two brothers Thomas and Paul Dutton and a host of guest vocalist playing the different characters throughout the story. I’m not going to get into the details but it’s a mix between Moulin Rouge and Aladdin with Aaron Weiss of Mewithoutyou Narrating in-between songs to get the full context of the story . For someone who had little to no recording budget this is a masterpiece of a musical.
Forgive Durden-The Missing Piece
1.Kay Kay and His weathered Underground
I suck at writing ( Which is why I write for music blogs where a simple sentence is adequate to sum up a post) so I’m stealing this summery of my favorite album of the year from I guess I’m floating.
For those unfamiliar with the ways of Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground, here’s a bit of backstory: the band was formed from the ashes of Gatsby’s American Dream. Kirk Huffman and Kyle O’Quin picked up the pieces and brought over their quirky songwriting and peripheral instrumentation, crafting their debut album over three years in Seattle. Upon completion and release early this year, the band played a sold out show at the Triple Door, about which Huffman remarked “I thought we’d be playing for ten people. This is the greatest night of my life!”
mellifluent orchestral vibes, free-flowing bigtop circus music, drums that thump as much as they float, and melodies you won’t be able to escape for days. Everything but the kitchen sink. It’s epic.
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground- Hey Momma
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground- Birds ( On A Day Like Today)
Ive heard that they eat dogs in China but in South Africa…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RmpOy_6ki4[/youtube]
South African House superstar DJ Cleo seems to have it all, hits on the radio, a gardner, lots of good friends and a kinda lager then life aura. Maybe all of this made him mad, or bored. “All work n no play makes DJ Cleo a dull boy” kida situation.
Or maybe he hated his gardner who is known only as Petros. There are many theories. Here is a pice of meaty journalism for the hollydays. And it truly is my favourite rumor right now.
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The SPCA have been trying to question DJ Cleo for the past year after one of his dogs was sexually molested.
The dog was eventually put down as its intestines were hanging out when it was brought to the SPCA in Randburg on May 15 2006.
The dog, a Boerboel bitch named Tiger, was in such a “shocking condition” that the centre manager, Phillip Roberts, threatened to have the two musicians that had brought the dog in arrested on the spot.
Sunday World established that the two musicians who took the dog to the SPCA were DJ What What, real name Brian Kgoe, and kwaito singer, Mavo, who refused to supply his real name.
DJ What What is DJ Cleo’s protégé, while Mavo works with Chicco Twala.
Mavo confirms the incident.
He says: “The centre manager wanted to call the police to come and arrest us after it was established that the dog had been penetrated by a human being. We told him we were just messengers as the dog belonged to DJ Cleo.”
He confirms that the dog’s intestines were hanging out of its private parts when they brought it to the centre.
He adds: “We were released after Phillip took DJ What What’s contact details. “We promised him that we were going to ask DJ Cleo to phone him.”
Mavo claims that when they delivered the message to DJ Cleo, born Cleopas Monyepao, the award-winning house music star started laughing and didn’t even try to phone the centre. Mavo adds: “The story about the dog (being sexually molested) became the best kept secret. I don’t know how you guys found it out.”
A Sunday World source claims that a plan was hatched to frame DJ Cleo’s gardener, known only as Petros – because “he was a Zimbabwean national and illegal in this country” – as the culprit if the police came and questioned them.
The source says: “Petros was so angry when he found out that he was being painted as a dog rapist. “He resigned on the spot after telling DJ Cleo to go and rot in hell.”
When Sunday World visited the centre on Friday, they confirmed the incident regarding Tiger but refused to elaborate further citing “doctor and client confidentiality”.
A source says DJ Cleo was phoned several times to come and explain how and who molested his dog but each time he hears it’s someone from the SPCA, he hangs up the phone. The matter was not pursued after Roberts left the centre in December.
When Sunday World confronted DJ Cleo about the allegations, he vehemently denied that the SPCA had been trying to contact him. But he confirmed that he sent his dog to the centre after it was molested. He says: “They are telling lies. They never tried to contact me.
“But it is true that I sent my dog there after I found it with its intestines hanging out.”
The muso also confirms that he was told by his two messengers, DJ What What and Mavo, that the SPCA had told them that the dog had been molested.
He adds: “I questioned my gardener about the matter but he denied it. But one day when he was drunk he admitted that he did it and I fired him.”
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DJ Cleo says he loves dogs and that he owns four at the moment.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPwCmhvmHeM[/youtube]
Just wanted to share this amazing video and track with you from Huoratron.
Berlin based Finish electro mad man. Also part of blog darlings New Judas.
It kinda sounds like someone who is really in to Heavy Metal but only had a gameboy.
have fun!
TOP TEN OF 2008
2008 was the year the Punk philosophy to DESTROY EVERYTHING almost became a reality. The U.S. economy, the largest our planet has ever seen, almost went belly up! As the world took a nose dive I kept listening to music.
Here are the 10 albums released in 2008 I replayed the most.
10. J Hood – Newest Mixtape
J Hood is my favorite unsigned rapper. I’ve listened to him for almost ten years now. I’ll never forget his debut rap, on the skit “Rape’n U Records” off LOX’s We Are The Streets:
Don’t sleep
Cuz if you sleep you dreamin’
And while you dreamin’
Your bitch getting pumped full of semen.
Oh my god I love J Hood. His lazy flow and sharp wit always make me rewind. Fast forward ten years and he quit D Block and is on his own trying to make things happen. Listening to the newest mixtape (he releases one about every four months) reminds me that we’re all struggling artists just trying to get a piece of the cake.
9. The Dears – Missiles
Nothing like some Canadian indie rock to remind me of my roots. I love Murray Lightburn’s singing voice and this band is his through and through. To prove it he fired the awesome group that made 2006′s Gang of Losers, hired a bunch of new people and made another great album.
8. Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
I was looking forward to whatever Jenny Lewis made after 2006′s Rabbit Fur Coat. This album is another genre record and has some great guest spots, like Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes and Elvis Costello. I like older country music and this album has a traditional folksy feel with a 21st century edge.
7. Rick Ro$$ – Trilla
I slept on Ross’s first album, except for “Hustlin’”. By the time Trilla came out I was a big DJ Khaled fan, so anything he produced got my immediate attention. I remember listening to this in the summer and kinda hating on it until track 6. HOLY FUCK MY MIND WAS BLOWN. Listen to this track, it’s my second fav of the year:
6. Guns N’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
I’m a big G’n'R fan but didn’t pay any mind to this album – I never thought it would be released. As I waited for it to download I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest. Axl rules but c’mon, a G’n'R record without Slash or Duff McKagan? Forget it. What impressed me the most about this project was that Axl didn’t try and replicate the past. He embraced all the new recording technology and different genres and invested a career’s worth of psychological baggage and rewarded himself with a work of art that can really only be described as EPIC. I listen to it from start to finish every time; no singles on this thing – it’s a journey.
5. P!nk – Funhouse
This album surprised me the most this year. Not only do I think “Sober” is the best pop song written all year, but the music video shocked me — and I don’t get shocked! Watch at 2:25 as Pink makes out with herself. Amazing. Also, after listening to this album I always switch to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix on my iPod. That’s a real compliment. Pink is honest, and true, and she doesn’t hold back. She’s impressive, that one.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukdD4cr-ZPg[/youtube]
4. Young Jeezy – The Recession
I remember Flores telling me back in the day that hip-hop is the black Punk rock. When I heard “Who Dat” I remembered that truth. Not only is “Who Dat” an awesome homage to classic hip-hop, where the DJ is center-stage like on “Jam Master Jay” or “Terminator X to the Edge of Panic”, but Jeezy, who honestly is about as good an MC as Puffy (ugh!) delivers awesome one-liners, like “I don’t chase no broads, I chase money and vodka” and
State of paranoia, all I do is call my lawyer
Tell him I know a nigga that might have a little trouble
OK you know it’s me
If you beat it I’ll pay you double
“Who Dat” is my favorite song of the year. Shawty Redd’s production is so absurd that for the first 20 times I listened to the song I couldn’t get through the whole thing. The relentless repetition of those three keys was just so intense. I LOVE THIS SONG.
To my mind this track, with its nihilistic abandon and relentless momentum, is just like a punk rock song. Kinda like this twenty-seven second tune:
Circle Jerks – Deny Everything
3. Mutators – Secret Life
PUNKS NOT DEAD! Mutators continue Vancouver, BC’s historic role in the history of punk. Nuff said.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FRkb08lzdo[/youtube]
2. Three 6 Mafia – Last 2 Walk
DJ Paul and Juicy J put every other hip-hop producer to shame. Simple as that. Listen to the lush layering, vocal syncopation, originality and reverent homage to the Texas old school in “On Some Chrome.” You can listen to this song twenty times and hear something new every time. R.I.P. Pimp C – he couldn’t have had a better exit.
Three 6 Mafia feat. UGK – On Some Chrome
1. Tricky – Knowle West Boy
When I was 15 two artists changed my life forever: Nirvana and Tricky. Well Tricky Kid is still around, and this album has some of his most lively, upbeat and exciting material in years. He conceived of it as a mixtape, so every genre you can think of, from blues to trance to hip-hop to punk to old spirituals is on display. The dexterity and breadth of Tricky’s creativity is bonkers.
BONUS
The best Album Intro I heard all year was Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince’s retelling of his legal woes on Scarface’s Emeritus. “Pumpkin head and swollen eyes” listen to this it’s hilarious:
J Prince – Scarface Album Intro
I’d be doing my music listening habit a diservice if I didn’t mention my favorite radio program. I listen to CBC Radio’s “Q” hosted by Jian Ghomeshi every day. Great interviews with artists from film, music, arts, everything.
And finally, the art world lost Robert Rauschenberg this year. Check out this 4 min video about how he put himself on the map by erasing a famous artist’s drawing:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpCWh3IFtDQ[/youtube]
Crystal Death
Any one who ever been to London know that you have the most fun if you hangout with kids who aren’t old enough to get in to the club. If you don’t know, you might wonder why? the answer is, because they have their own alcohol free raves. That might still sound like no fun, but believe me brother, you don’t need alcohol to get fucked up.
Crystal Death sounds like the perfect sound track to the beaten down British kids rave. I thought the tracks were, “wonky” and jungle when I heard them, but one half of C.D., Oliver Ranth, explained to me that he had thought of Baltimore when they where created. I guess it’s the same thing as when Daft Punk said all they really tried to do was old school hip hop and failed miserably, to every ones delight.
Well, you be the judge.
Crystal Death – Power on da Hour
And this slightly older gem:
Best Albums of 2008
WE ARE ENDING THE YEAR OFF WITH A BUNCH OF BEST OF LISTZ!
To get things started we have Hunk’s picks for the best albums of 2008.
10. Cut Copy [In Ghost Colours]
2008 was a big year for Australian music. In Ghost Colours was the highly anticipated, follow up to the groups 2003 debut which rescued electronic music from the death grips of the sub-genred, drugged-out route it was going in. The album proved the wait was worthwhile, it’s a pleasurable listen from beginning to end. The album also added fuel to the disco resurgence as well as keeping the retro 80′s vibe alive.
Cut Copy – Feel The Love
9. MGMT [Oracular Spectacular]
MGMT were easily one, if not the most remixed group of 2008. This album really grew on me and i think others as well as its now, as of recent being played on mainstream radio. The band was easily one of the most up hyped groups and deservingly so, although id say they are bordering on overplay and in definite need of some new tracks to add to the fire.
8. Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit [The Very Best]
Diplo & Santogold [Top Ranking] &
Girl Talk [Feed The Animals]
3-Way Tie
disclaimer: I couldn’t decide between these and decided that they’re all similar being “mixes”, made up of bits of already composed music.
2008 was the year of the promotional, internet distributed mix tape. Diplo followed up his 2005 MIA mix tape effort, Piracy Funds Terrorism and reminded everyone that he’s still a major player in the game with this 35 track 80 minute journey through reggae, electro, hip hop and the kitchen sink. Top Ranking is truly an enjoyable listen, featuring the ebs and flow, peaks and valley missing from lesser mixes. Alongwith showcasing Santogold work, the remix work takes this album beyond a simple collection of songs into something worthy of a top spot amongst albums of original content.
Diplo vs Santogold – Top Ranking – I’m a Lady (Diplo Mix ft Amanda Blank)
2008 introduced Esau Mwamwaya and his take on African music to the mainstream music world. Teaming up with Radioclit, the pair have created something completely unique by adding an African element to more traditional sampling . There upcoming debut release is high up on the albums to look forward to in 2009 list. Oh and did I mention, this and the above we’re released for free via the net. (search the archives for them)
The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) – Hide & Seek
Dj’s of the world take note, nobody rocked a party quite as hard as Greg Gillis did in 2008. Laptop djing once looked down upon is looking to be the future. Nobody has ever mixed as many genres as successfully as “Feed The Animals” does and everyone from frat boys to discerning music snobs have seemed to take notice to the mass appeal of it all. My only complaint is that the album is so ADD and party that you really have to be ready to go if your putting this album on, but is that really a bad thing?
Girl Talk – Still Here
7. The Dodos [Visiteur]
Slightly lesser knowns, The Dodos have put together an excellent solid debut showcasing their art folk sound. The drumming on the album alone is worthy of a spot on my list. Pitchfork drew warranted comparison to Led Zepplin – III. All they need to do now is come back and play Vancouver again. Please…
The Dodos – Jodi
6. Chad VanGaalen [Soft Airplane]
This album has replaced the spot once held by VanGaalen’s 2004 debut “Infiniheart” as one of my all time favorite albums. CVG is often compared to Neil Young with his peicingly soft falsetto voice, with this album I think he has surpassed those comparisons by making this remarkable piece of art. His home-made basement aesthetic provides an unmatched intimacy. My only complaint is that he always pushes the experimental envelope a little too far on one or two songs, without those tracks the album would play out better, and would be number one on my list. However, there’s no way CVG could of ever gotten to the place he is now without constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries to his unique sound.
Chad VanGaalen – Molten Light
5. Fleet Foxes [self titled]
I don’t think there was a single person in the room that didn’t feel a shiver pass through them, with the opening notes of their live show here in Vancouver, this album is like that. Their musicianship is excellent, their debut self titled album is a breath of fresh air to the sometimes stale indie rock sound where a lot of bands end up sounding the same. Almost a re visitation to the folk sound of the 60’s but with a unique twist on things as if the group has existed in a void, isolated from everything else going on in music.
Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
4.Born Ruffians – [Red, Yellow & Blue]
People are still sleeping on this little Toronto band. Their live act will blow you away. Their album Red, Yellow and Blue is stocked full of indie barn funk jams and their call and answer style is dancey as fuck, what ever that means? Go and listen to them for yourself and then we can discuss this in further detail.
Born Ruffians – Foxes Mate For Life
3. Bon Iver [For Emma, Forever Ago]
The internet is finally going nuts on Bon Iver (pronounced EEVUR) as they are currently at the top of the Hype Machines most blogged artists. This album fills the void when it’s been a long day and you need something soothing to get you back home. For Emma, Forever might be my most listened to album as well (blogging is really hard on the soul).
Bon Iver – For Emma
2.Crystal Castles [Self Titled]
Easily the best thing to happen to electronic music as of recent saw it being fused with elements of hardcore and, dare I say, goth-rave meets the video arcade on acid. The group’s minimalist sound with the cut up vocals of lead Alice Glass charted new territory sampling everything from what sounds like he-man cartoons to the 8 bit sounds of a nintendo gameboy, the album found a perfect fit with me in 2008. While the biggest hit of the album, Crimewave got a lot of people’s attention, the other album tracks provide greater depth into all that is CC and are just as good, if not better. The enigmatic group’s explosive live performances led by vocalist Alice Glass (Maybe the hottest “indie Cindy” of 2008) also helped.
Crystal Castles – Vanished
1.Vampire Weekend [Self Titled]
Definitely one of the most loved and hated groups of 2008, it’s almost as if some people hold having an ivy league education and their listenability against them?? Their influences are diverse, a little bit of Africa, a lot of New York and something that’s reminiscent of a feel good 80′s movie about girls. I think they made a lot of new fans with their their live act as they are truly talented musicians both when playing live and in the orchestration on the album. Their self titled debut took top spot for me as there isn’t a bad song on it, their sound is distinct, enjoyable and survivable of intense multiple listenings. If I could time travel to the future and bring back any album it would be their next output.
Vampire Weekend – I Stand Corrected
Honorable mentions to:
Yo! Majesty – Futuristically Speaking: Never Be Afraid for helping to usher out the 50 cent era, bringing life back to hip hop and showing that they’re here to stay. Radiohead – In Rainbows, definately could of been on my list but they’re Radiohead everything they do is great, you don’t need me to tell you that. The Ting Tings -We Started Nothing, because there is nothing like getting slapped around a bit by a rocker chick even if they do get a little too poppy. Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell for being Canadian, Lykke Li – Youth Novels if only for her unique voice and lyrics. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III for making me actually like something Lil and for his improvisational rapping style n lyrics. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark for continuing to be Hot Chip and making me wish I needed glasses so that i could wear some like, Alexis Taylor’s. I must say also Tv on the Radio’s Dear Science and Portishead’s Third as I have to admit that I still havn’t listened to them but have heard they probably could of made the list as well as a few others i might of missed but there’s only so many hours in a day and far too much good music to listen to.
Show Me Yer Gennys.
Jon Lajoie is a Montreal based comedian.
Jon Lajoie – Show Me Your Genitals
Sorry 56kbs, will post a higher bitrate version if we can get it…
News Bits
Dizzee was caught over the weekend working on his swing. Rather than the conventional baseball or softball, he instead chose to hit a car.
Last week, some hopeless idiot said this to me: “The economy isn’t affecting you, is it?” Instead of asking what planet he’s on, I distracted him with a shiny nickel.
EVERYONE is somehow feeling the pinch these days, and celebs (from A-list to Z) aren’t immune either. T-Boz is now a victim of the foreclosure crisis, although she claims that the foreclosure has something to do with her ex-hubby Mack 10. I guess Inglewood really ain’t up to no good?
Damon Dash earlier this year had his Manhattan properties go into foreclosure too. Maybe wearing ‘crispy’ sneaks and tees every day for a few years wasn’t such a good idea after all…
